The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-26

cratic HarEnDny-Yhe PreteLassons Oh
the Refo-zners VeEtiaated-"N Only
One Man Can save the Democratic
PARTY, It Should Die and he Buried
Forever
Ladies and Gentlemen. Fellow-citizens of
Calessieu Parish--It gives me pride and
pleasure to accept your invitation to appear
before the Democracy Of this sterling Old
parish. Much as | have eanvassed the State
and mingled with its people, and long as !
have been In political life, and my political
life commenced when l laid down my arms as
a Confederate soldier and Joined in the work
Of rohabilitatipg Louisiana, 1t has never been
INV good fortune before to visit this parish.
] have travelled through the Attakapas and
addressed its people. and each time when my
head was turned toward your beautiful par
ish something has occurred to prevent my
coming among you.
fam glad perhaps that that visit has been
30 loag deferred, because In the meantime,
and in what appears to be q very short space,
q beautiful city has sprung up on the banks
of this charming lake as if by enchantment.
Where a few years ago were but few cottages
and scattered huts, Is to-day Q proud city
HIS mlSHTGSS vi bOuth WCbbC1A LOuin1u1h-n
city of commerce, a city of manufactures, a
city full of enterprising people, a city 10 be
perhaps tle third IN Louisiana and II of
the first cities of the Southwest. And I wish,
-felow-eitizens, in this my first appearance
befo.e you. that / was able tqde what your
Chairman has said I intend to do, to discuss
tile issues OF the present day. M~yfelow-citi-
gems. it seems as If we were never to be per-
L. Isza-1. H. .,zxoa - fho ny.nonnk
day.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
and the people of all parties in other States,
assemble periodically before their elections,
and even before their nominations, to dis
cuss the great questions which concern their
material interests, They assemble together
e. hear the candidates for Congress- and for
State officers, and the candidates who are to
represent them in the Legislature, discuss
before them those questions which affect
their material interests, and upon which,
vnila engaged in their daily ayocations, they
ase not able to fully inform themselves. It
pcuad give me pleasure, feli0w-citlzens, ii
this. were . campaign in which | could dis
c1iss such issues before you. You are inter
ested, as all the people OF the other States
are interested, In these great qEestlens. sone
OF which come before the National Legisla-
home questions which are TO be decided by
ancil of your w choice In your State Legis-
l@t3Ee. The people of other states assemble
to hear the tariff question discussed: they
desire to be informed as to the condition Of
the finances Of the country, and they desire
to know why is twenty i've years
after the cessation OF the war that
war taxation is still levied upon the
people. They inquire of their repre-
egntatiYes WIN it is that more than a phn-
tlrea million dollars is collected from the
people annually in excess of what IS neces-
sary for the economical support of the gov
ernment, and duh indeed is the man who
does not know that every dollar collected by
way of taxation from the people,, over and
above the needs OF the country, Is so much
taken by robbery from their pockets. You
are interested, fellow-citizens, in the discus
sion OF great questions of national improve
ment. You who live. upon the banks of this
beautiful rivera river OF such great pos
Eibiiities, q river with q wealth of timber
growing upon its banks-are interested in
knowing why the FedetA government should
not remove the bar which Is at the mouth of
the river and thus open this splendid avenue
OF conlr ,erce. You know very well that If
tie Gaaeasieu river was in . Northern or
Western State it would be made naVlgable by
the general government for vessels which
would carry away the product OF your mills
and at least compel the great railways to es-
basis upon the transportation of the connSry.
You are interested, fellnw-citizens, IN ques-
tons of education. You are interested in
questions of agricultural Improvement and
"a AAAI 9 oAS AoSS-
lions OF this kind are not discussed IN
TEE PRESENT CANVASS,
and cannot be. because we are engaged In
the same old history of the pest. Instead OF
looking forward to the discussion of
tie future and to what we have of
discussing ancient history. and that history
which we should have closed when we came
into possession once more. OF the her1-
tage of onr State. Why, fellow-citixens,
~ troV hea haHt1 nv1r for TVsantE.fVya rQa ra
and il Is ten years since we came into COM
plete possession OF the government OF I'll
State, n NC arc now ] possession of the
government of our State from its highest
cussing questions which affect our eommoE1
prosperity, the development OF Il State ant
the welfare of It's people, the improvement d
our commerce., the establishment 0frinstitu-
tions Of educatioa,cth Improvement o our
agriculture we aye engaged / n ~Iiscussing
In the Democratic party who shall be the
next candidate tor Governor, and in the BIT
ternoss Ct that discussion are FORGETTING that
Democratic party, to whiehwe are ah attached
and 10 which this parish has always been
attached and devoted. Why, fellow-citizens,
Lose i stated IN 2 pager published here to-
which 4 see around me, Is a ring meeting
and a McEnery meeting, and the intimation
seems sufficient TO thseditor Of the paper to
notify all WHO are moi Slaves Of the ring and
friends of McEnery to stay away from the
Areeting and to avoid the speaking here to-
day. lido not know that such advice was
Tne4ht. bub the statement Is that this ID q
ring md a McEinery meeting and the infer
therefores that those who are not adj
r0cEtes Df the nomination OF Coy. MeEaery
ought NOT to be present and to lend il their
coniatenanee. Why, leiloW-citi9ens. j got
An INyrrATIoa 70 THIS MEETING.
which I believe T have is my pocket, and it
Ae1ue. raxr nH.rxvs Ia Nev d sss7
no Hon. q. Z. Jonas, NeT Orleans La:
Degr Sfr-By order of q meeting of the Demo-
cress Of the parish of oaleasieu. convened af
csassinE is propsiesg Of calling tie eoed peopis
81 calcasieH parish togather4in mass meeting at
Democratic speakers. irrespective of personal or
differences. TO address them. yoJ are
~ NJ 81 nov Noy' d. asd deliver a. address. = A.ess
WM. MEYER 5hsirma1.
RAEDALL "a. OELom, Secretary.
Its & meeting, If I read tbs invitation
aright. which Is open tD every Democrat in
ihe land: ii Is q meeting to which all Demo
craks are invited, irrespective of personal
choice of candidates.. or OF fractional differ
encee. ti Ia b grand old Democratic meet
E bssaassass a 81 I s Mea par gsPee " z o III sa5sa ~ fA sas
IL IL b meeting to which I presume
Gen. Nichols and Coy. McEneTy ere both
1T ID d meeting TO which / presume
other eanalaages Ior noMlnae
lz0Ak RIM tl4O al 49, = IA f<ftA< - H+AS p
invited Iii Is q meeting In which the people
Of Galcasieu state that they are . Democratic
gEinily, ready to hear each and every candi-
sate. and the adToeate of each and every
saudidate who has B caIge to- plead, and to
hear what might be Bsid in favor Of or
against any candidate who was presented to
Ehenl for their SURFACES. Wen, fellow
sifizexs, * 4 was an advocate Of the nomina-
Eion of Coy. McEnery / would be- here to-
night ID accept your invitation. IT, / came
here To plead the cause OF Nichols, on JEFF
Eriea. or MOncure, or Cunningham, or amy
Democrat in this State who is worthy
81 the support of the Democratic people, this
blaffornn Is broad and wide enough for z1e to-
upon and to address You this evening.
But feil0W-citizens, this and meetings OF q
keeharaeter ARE the only ones that I have
seen able to attend. You had D meeting iii
JalcaaIctt d few weeks ago, End other meet-
ngs have been held thr0Hgh the State. which
saEe attended pr Democrats whom 4 q
sa0 Hre YriendsOf mine, and who have been |